Today we meet Pangu, a hairy giant of a fellow from Folk Religion who is responsible for the creation of the heavens and the earth. Chinese history is full of stories and myths that have lasted thousands of years and weave together concepts like Daoism and folk Religion. Pangu doesn't seem to have many tales but the stories we do know profoundly express deep theological beliefs from various ethnic groups of Ancient China. When explaining how everything came to be, ancient Chinese didn't seem too interested in origin stories of the universe which is why it took a long time for them to appear. At least compared to most nations. Almost every culture around the world has obsessively tried to answer the question of origins and creation but ancient Chinese appear to have taken a much longer time to actually formulate origin stories than we would expect for one of the oldest cultures in the world. Or perhaps we just don't have the orally transmitted stories that have been told for millennia. It'd be unwise to discount that we are missing large swathes of written stories and documents and oral history. There is some evidence that the story of Pangu was recorded around 164 AD but is much older, going back as far as the Zhou dynasty of 1000 BC. This explanation for the Origin of the universe centers on the god of Chaos (The Dijiang or Hundun or as we all know him, Morris from Shang Chi) being cracked open like a cosmic egg. Emerging from this egg is Pangu whose very flesh and blood is responsible for filling the earth. It's a story of the impersonal cosmic energy source found in the Dao. Of primordial chaos and the order that comes from it. It explains the way that heaven and earth became so far apart and the power of Yin and Yang. One interesting aspect about these stories is that they're so deeply intertwined with Daoism. It's possible Pangu is a minor local legend that was transmitted by an ethnic group and entered into Daoist thought. Yet It's also possible Daoism was very connected to the story of Pangu from the start. It begs the question, which came first, the Yin Yang or the egg? My understanding of Daoism might not be the best but as I learn and tackle these ideas I'm constantly surprised how close some ideas are to Christianity and yet how different they are as well. The supreme source of energy for the universe or better said, the hard to comprehend but somewhat observable force, the Dao, means the way. In light of Chinese Folk Religion, what's fascinating is how much we can mine from the person of Jesus including his statement that He Himself is the way. Something incredibly bold to state in the context of the Dao. ⏲TIME STAMPS⏲ 0:00 Chinese Creation Myth? 0:33 Today we are going to be talking about cosmic eggs???? 1:02 What ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7Ci-MWcpDw

How are idols made? Making an idol involves much more than just cutting a nice piece of wood. It has to be a home fit for a god! ⏱ TIMESTAMPS ⏱ 0:00 Would you clean your house if the President of Taiwan came to visit? (Taiwanese Folk Religion Style) Intro ? 0:42 How are idols made? ? 1:10 Mass manufactured gods? 2:15 Sometimes the physical shape of an idol or statue doesn't represent the god behind it 2:24 On site of local temple 2:35 Materials idols are made from correspond to 5 elements: earth, fire, wood, water, and metal??? 2:48 Camphor wood 4:44 god favored by the company Acer 5:05 COMPARE & CONTRAST TIME 5:43 God demands our physical image be spiritually clean? 7:39 In the Old Testament, you did not cross God's law because it could end badly 8:32 In Christianity sometimes we are told what to do, but we just are not faithful to do it 9:24 As Christians, maybe we don't understand holiness like we should ▬ Contents of this video ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Since idols are conduits between gods and humanity, they can't be made from just everyday materials or treated like everyday objects. Everything from the materials to the location to the day itself is prepared intentionally. Remember that gods don't "dwell" in the statues any more than a television show dwells in your TV! Instead, these idols are connections between the physical and spiritual worlds. Typically, in Taiwanese Folk Religion a god will actually dwell or possess a spirit medium which is different from being a pure conduit. ?What Does the Bible Say? "So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Genesis 1:27 "But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23 "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" Hebrews 9:14 "For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He punishes every son whom He accepts.” Hebrews 12:6 "My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His rebuke, For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, Just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights." Proverbs 3:11-12 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20 ▬ About Pilgrimage Films ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Pilgrimage Films exists to bring you with us on the missi ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN12L9rmsx4

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This week we cover day 1 of the 2021 Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage. Haili, Em, and Jake drive to Dajia and see one of the largest religious events in the world. Some estimates state that several hundred thousand followers of Mazu celebrate the start of the pilgrimage. The followers will continue on a 9-day 300km journey around different places and cities in Taiwan. Traveling by foot they bring Mazu from Temple to Temple until she returns to Dajia. This event is so important the president of Taiwan actually showed up and we were able to film her passing by. Over 300 Million people worship Mazu worldwide and despite the massive following few westerners seem to know about this massive religious following. Check out our video from last week to see the origin of Mazu! And stay tuned for next week when we explain all the ins and outs of this celebration! ⏲️TIME STAMPS⏲️ 0:27 Right now we are at the Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage??‍♂️??‍♂️??‍♂️??‍♂️??‍♂️?‍♀️?‍♂️??‍♀️???‍♂️??‍♂️??‍♂️ 0:32 People are going to be walking 300 KM over the next 9 days ?️ 0:52 According to discovery channel this is one of the biggest religious festivals in the world!? 1:30 We arrive at the actual Dajia Temple? 2:00 The President of Taiwan is here!?? 2:15 We get to see the president!? 2:40 We head into the temple where hundreds are gathered inside to worship Mazu 3:22 Temples from all over Taiwan arrive one by one to perform and worship Mazu 4:07 Why is everyone carrying flags??? 5:30 What are all the parade floats for? 5:51 A huge sky lantern is released for Mazu 6:15 We meet a new Taiwanese friend??‍♂️ 6:20 Homemade dumplings? 6:33 Why are there 6 rows of lanterns at the Dajia Temple??????? 7:24 Rooftop view of the crowds? 8:20 Entire crowd kneels and prayers to Mazu before we comes out of the temple??‍♂️??????????‍♂️??‍♂️ 9:15 We get carried out of the temple by a massive mob of people 9:40 Haili gets separated from Jake & Em 10:09 Too many people in Dajia, so we lose cell service? 10:21 Taiwanese friend lets us borrow his scooter? 11:57 Fireworks on a bridge? 12:35 Haili is still lost...??️ 13:25 Mazu makes her first stop at a temple? 14:11 Haili's camera is dying and still no sign of her friends?⚰️? 15:00 Mazu keeps marching on for the next 9 days????‍♂️??‍♂️??‍♂️??‍♂️??‍♂️?????‍♀️ ▬ About Pilgrimage Films ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Pilgrimage Films exists to bring you with us on the missionary journe ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GEu0bHo-nk